A Swindon mother has praised a Costa Coffee worker for his unexpected act of kindness during a difficult moment. 

Vicki Douglas, 36, was at the Great Western Hospital with her daughters, 15-year-old Kyla and 4-year-old Amelia, on Tuesday.

Her youngest was in the process of being assessed for autism and was at the busy hospital to have a blood test. 

After the procedure was carried out, Vicki promised Amelia she could have some chocolate from the hospital's Costa Coffee because she was so brave, but hadn't realised that she'd left for the appointment without her phone and bank card. 

Flustered, the mother tried to explain she couldn't pay for what she'd asked for, and left, only to be stopped in her tracks by a young man who worked there coming out with her items, which included a drink for herself. 

She explained to him she couldn't pay, and he told her that it was fine, because he had paid for her. 

Vicki says that she was left emotional by the young man's actions, and when she got home she took to Facebook to publicly praise and thank him for what he'd done. 

"I got to the till and realised I had no way at all to pay so I stood for a second to explain to the lady I couldn't pay but she was busy serving customers so I left, then the young man came out with the stuff calling me."

"I said 'Oh no, I haven't paid' and he said he had paid for it for me I was just in total shock for a second I did get a bit emotional and just felt so so grateful for him to leave his place of work to buy those items for me.

"I did the post on Facebook, and found out who he is and I have sent him a message. I hope he realises he's a breath of fresh air! Someone else wrote he had helped them as well so he's clearly a good egg."

The young man in question, Elliot Dufton, commented only to say: "You're very welcome anytime."

The Facebook post, on the Swindon Community Notice Board page, received a huge reaction from members of the public with almost 1,000 likes. 

One person tagged Costa Coffee and said: "What a lovely thing to do. Costa Coffee this young man is a credit."

Another added: "How proud must his parents be? There’s so much negativity around youngsters, this just proves the opposite. Well done young man, I hope Costa appreciates you."